Runa Laila

Runa Laila (রুনা লায়লা), born on 17 November 1952 in Sylhet, then part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), is one of South Asia’s most celebrated playback singers. She began her musical journey as a child prodigy, learning classical ragas from her mother and performing on local radio by the age of ten. Her breakthrough came in the early 1970s when she moved to Dhaka and recorded the hit song “Aaj Ki Raat” for the film *Shurjo Shongram*, instantly establishing her as a versatile vocalist capable of blending folk sensibilities with modern pop arrangements. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Runa Laila became a cross‑border sensation, lending her voice to Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali films in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. She collaborated with legendary composers such as Khayyam, R.D. Burman, and Alauddin Ali, delivering timeless tracks like “Meri Bhabhi,” “Bicharpotir Gaan,” and “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar” (Bangladeshi version). Known for her bright soprano timbre and emotive phrasing, she seamlessly navigated genres ranging from romantic ballads to energetic disco‑era numbers. Her contributions earned her multiple Bangladesh National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer (1978, 1979, 1992) and the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2015, cementing her legacy as a cultural icon of the subcontinent.